Washing-machine.



Patented A'ug. 22, |899.

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||||| Ih il l lill mm WASHINGTON n C No. 63|,347. Patented Aug. 22, |899. G. F. VAN BRUNT.

WASHING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 11, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

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l NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE F. VAN BRNT, lOF KEWANEE, ILLINOIS.

WASHING- MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION formng part of Letters Patent No. 631,347, dated August 22, 1899.

v Application flied March 11,1899. serial 110,708,710. er@ model.)

T0 all whom it nfl/my Concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. VAN BRUNT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kel wanee, in the county of Henryand State of Illinois, have inventeda new and useful Washing-Machine, of which the following is a specification. o

IThe invention relates to improvements in washing-machines.

The object of the present invention is to im-` prove the construction of washing-machines and to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient one capable of rapidly and thoroughly washing clothes without injuring the fabrics.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a washing-machine constructed in accordance with this in vention,the hinged upper section or lid being raised. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view ofthe same, the hinged section orlid being lowered. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view. l 4 is a detail perspective View of' the oscillating presser or pounder. y

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all lthe figures of Athe drawings.

v1 designates a substantially semicylindrical washing-machine body supported upon suit.- able legs and provided at opposite sides with bearings 2 and 3, in which is journaled an oscillating pounder or presser @which coperates with a pair of auxiliary pressers 5, mounted on a hinged section orlid 6,which is adapted to be swung upward, as illustrated in Fig. l

'of the accompanying drawings, to lift the auxiliary pressers out of the said box or body and afford access to the latter. The lid or section 6 is hinged at ,one end of the body at 7, Vand it is provided with a depending rec` tangular flange 8, fitting within the body or suds-box 1 and consisting of barssecured to the lower face of the lid or section and inwardly offset from the edges thereof to provide a tight joint between the washing-machine bodyand the lid or section 6 when the latter is closed. The lid or section 6 may be covered over, as shown in the accompanying drawings, to prevent water from splashing out of the machine; but it will be apparent that it may consist simply of an open rectangular frame. The lid may when closed be secured to the body by any suitable fastening device to prevent it from being lifted by the oscillating pounder or presser.

The auxiliary pressers, which are located at the ends of the machine, consist of rectangular body portions provided with openings 9 and presenting fiat faces to the clothes, the openings being formed by longitudinal and transverse bars or partitions 1`Oand 11, the latter being staggered or alternately arranged, as shown. Each auxiliary presser is provided at its ends with upwardly-extending arms 13, arranged opposite the center and perforated for the reception of a transverse pintle-rod 14, which passes through perforations of the side flanges of the hinged top or section. The openings formed by the longitudinal and transversepartitions or bars permit the passage of water expelled from the clothes during the operation Yof washing.

The oscillating presser or pounder, which is mounted at the center of the washing-machine. body, presents 'at surfaces to the clothes and is provided with openings 15', con'- structed similar to those of the auxiliary pressers, and it has upwardly-extending arms 16 and 17 at its sides. The arm 16 is provided at its upper end with an outwardly-extending journal which detachably fits in the bearing of the washing-machine body, and thesaid bearing 3 is in the form of a socket, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings. The other arm 17 is provided at its upper end with a horizontal portion 1S, journaled in the bearing 2 and extended through the same. The bearing 2 is composed of upper and lower sections and is adapted to separate to permit the presser or pounder to be removed from the washingmachine body. i

The horizontal portion of the arm 17 is provided with a depending exterorly-arranged arm or member 19, having a slot or bifurcation 20, which forms an opening for the reception of an antifriction-roller 21, carried by an operating-lever 22. The operating-lever 22 is journaled on a stub-shaft which projects outward from the upper' section of the bear- IOO ing .2 and which is arranged eccentrically of the bearings of the presser or pounder. The lever which carries the antifriction-roller 2l has its lower portion deflected outwardly and provided with an inwardly-extending pin or projection 24, upon which the antifriction roller or sleeve is mounted.

When the operating-lever is oscillated, the pounder or presser is swung from one end of the washing-machine body to the other to carry the clothes into engagement with the depending pivotally-mounted auxiliary pressers, and these part-s are adapted to adjust themselves to the clothes in order to exert a comparatively uniform pressure on the same. The upper portion of the oscillating pounder or presser engages the inner edge of the horizontal auxiliary presser and tilts the latter toward it and causes the clothes to be squarely pressed, which operation expels the suds and water from them and carries away the dirt. By connecting the operating-lever with the oscillating pounder or presser by the means Shown and described the pressure gradually increases as the pounders or pressers come together, and the leverage is the greatest as the antifriction roller orsleeve is at the outer end of the arm or member 19 while the clothes are being squeezed, and as the 'antifriction sleeve or roller moves upward in the slot or opening of the arm or member 19 the leverage decreases. This arrangement also causes a quick movement of the oscillating pounder or presser when the same is passing across the central portion of the washing-machine body and when there is comparatively no resistance to its movement, and it causes a slower movement of the oscillating pounder or presser when the clothes are being squeezed and when the said oscillating pounder or presser is at the ends of the washing-machine body. Y

By reference to Fig. l it will be seen that that portion of the body which carries the f ulcrum-pin of the operating-lever is removable in an upward direction, so as to enable the oscillating presser to be removed from the machine. By mounting the operating-lever upon such removable part the lower end of the lever may be disengaged from the slotted arm 19. This is accomplished by rocking the lever until the oscillating presser is carried upward. The upward movement of the presser may be continued until the slotted arm 19 extends upward above the journal,and in this position the pin 24 on the operatinglever may be slid out of engagement with the slot 20 at the same time that the removable part of the body is withdrawn from its seat. Then this is done, the oscillating presser may be readily removed from the body.

The washing-machine hereinabove described is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, is strong and durable, and is capable of rapidly and thoroughly washing clothes at the expenditure of a minimum amount of labor. The pressers between which the clothes are squeezed are capable of adjusting themselves to suit the quanttyand character of the fabrics being washed, and the operating mechanism is su ch that the leverage is the greatest at the point where it can be applied to the greatest advantage and ythat speed instead of power is furnished at the point where the oscillating pounder meets with comparatively little resistance.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages ot this invention.

What is claimed is- 1. A washing-machine comprising a washing-machine body havinga hinged lid or section, a pair of oppositely-disposed depending auxiliary pressers centrally pivoted on the hinged section or lid and having substantially horizontal lower faces arranged to be engaged by the clothes and provided with openings, and an oscillating presser or pounder arranged within the washing machine body and having two working faces which coperate with and work in parallel relation to the auxiliary pressers,substantially as described.

2. A washing-machine comprising a washing-machine body, an oscillating pounder or presser,an exteriorly-arran ged arm connected with the pounder or presser, and an operating-lever fulcrumed on a removable portion of the washing-machine body and having a sliding connection with the exteriorly arranged arm, whereby the lever may be detached and the leverage is increased as the pounder or presser approach es the ends of the body, substantially as described.

3. In a washing-machine, the combination of a washing-machine body, having a removable portion, a removable oscillating pounder or presser provided with an exteriorly-arranged arm having a slot or opening, and an operating-lever fulcrumed between its ends on the removable portion of the body and having one end provided withva projection or lug engaging the said slot or opening, substantially as described.

In testimony that I'claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE F. VAN BRUNT.

lVitnesses:

W. H. BARRETT, H. T. SCOTT.

IOO

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